Agh! HP5+ overexposed by 4 stops

[kully]

Evening,

Being a fool, I managed to set overexpose three 120 HP5+ rolls by four stops (EI400, flash).

Any ideas on development?

 

[coelacanth]

According to the massive dev chart (http://www.digitaltruth.com/devchart.php?Film=HP5&Developer=D-76&mdc=Search), for example with D-76, you can at least pull one stop. I've salvaged my GF's Trix400 rolls shot at 100 (2 stops over exposed) with good results.

I think you can pull quite a bit, and put some contrast in print.

Is the flash direct? If that's the case, it's gonna be harder to salvage highlights...

 

[eli griggs]

HC110 dil. H might help, otherwise, Diafine. Also consider a Selenium step to add density.

 

[Freakscene]

I guess you mean four stops over EI 400 - so you shot it at EI 25. Ilford supplies data town to EI 250, which isn't entirely helpful.

I'd try dilute Perceptol or D23 and do a snip test first or develop the first roll by inspection. You can probably halve the time for the lowest speed Ilford provides data for, but sometimes I've found that in these situations you need more development than you might suspect. You are going to get great shadow detail.

Good luck and lket us know how it goes.

Marty

 

[HMFriedman]

HC110 dil. H might help, otherwise, Diafine. Also consider a Selenium step to add density.

Somehow, I don't think density is going to be a problem.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

Unless these are extremely valuable photos, I wouldn't waste my time or chemicals trying to pull four stops. The result is going to suck, no matter what you do.

 

[Bob Michaels]

Ilford made a disposable camera loaded with HP5 that had a f8 1/2 lens and 1/100th shutter. So that is 3 1/2 stops over in Sunny 16 situations. I have shot with one of those developing in Rodinal 1:50 for 6 minutes.

I cannot say the negs were the best but they certainly were usable just dense and flat. Based on that, I believe you could work with 4 stops over. Of course, I believe you are SOL if you want really good prints.

 

[sepiareverb]

I regularly shoot HP5+ at ISO 50 when in the woods to reduce contrast, and get excellent results. Microdol-X or Perceptol @ 1:1 for 9 1/2 minutes for ISO 50- I'd try 8 1/2 minutes, maybe do a clip if you have to have one of them. I agitate for the first 20 seconds, then only once every minute- not my usual every half.

These get printed at about grade 1 1/2 or 2 on average, sometimes an additional very brief exposure at grade 5 to set stronger shadows- but these are shot in twenty stop plus situations.

This one got the grade 5 exposure for stronger black lines: